Dr Shearer is an NHMRC Research Fellow based at The University of Melbourne. Her expertise is in the use of data analytics, modelling, and decision science to support infectious disease management. Her work focuses on two broad pathogen types: those with constrained geographic distributions due to their complex transmission cycles involving multiple animal reservoir and vector species (e.g., zoonotic malaria); and those of pandemic potential due to their novelty and direct/efficient human-to-human transmission (e.g., SARS-CoV-2).

Since January 2020, Dr Shearer has been engaged in supporting the Australian Government response to COVID-19. She has a leadership role in weekly reporting to key national decision-making committees on state-level and national epidemic situational assessment.